Improvement in reversible latches



W. E. SPARKS. v Reversible-Latch.

No. 198,104. I I Patented Dec. 25,1877.

T0 all whom iii-may cohcern UNITED STATES y WILLIAM SPARKS, onnnvv BRITAIN, comvncricur, ssrenon TO P. a r. CORBIN, on SAME PLACE.

ajIMPROVEMEN T IN RENVERSIBLE" LATCHES.

. Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 198,704, dated December 95,1877; application filed November 26, 1877.

Be it known that I, WILLIAM E. SPARKS,

. of New Britain,in the county of Hartford and State of Oonnecticut,'have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Reversible Latches, of which the following is a specification:

My invention consists of the peculiar construction of certain parts, and in the combination of parts, as hereinafter described.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a front elevation of a latch which embodies my invention, the same being represented with one side plate partially broken away, in

order to better Show the parts. Fig. 2 is a i y side elevation of the latch-bolt detached. Fig. 3is an end view of the hub detached. Fig. 4

is an edge view of the same. Fig. 5 is a side elevation of the yoke detached, and Fig. 6 is an. edge view of the same. y

A designates the latch-case; B, the latchbolt, with square andbeveled head and a round shaft, substantiallyas in other reversible latches. G designates the yoke, made longer than those ordinarily employed, and

having a shouldered tenon, a, on its outer end,

. 4 which takes into the bolt-head mortise in the face-plate D. This yoke has two bearings, b

b, for the round shaft of the latch-bolt B, and the front or outer end of the yoke is supported by engagement with the face-plate, as before described, thereby supporting the latch-bolt in a very firm manner. I

The length of the yoke G and its position in relation to the hub are such that when the yoke is thrown forward by means of the spring 0, and engages with the face-plate D, as shown 1 in Fig. 1, both arms 0 c of the hub E bear against the ordinary studs d d at the end of the yoke, ready to be moved inward by either arm upon the first movement of the hub. One

side of the hub E is slotted, as shown in Fig. 4. Upon one side of the yoke G, and pivoted thereon, is-an angle-lever, F, the short arm f of which engages the neck of the latch-bolt in front of the shoulder g. The latch-bolt has no shoulders to engage the bearings of the yoke, so that the short arm f of the angle-lever F controls the longitudinal position of the latch within the yoke. A spring,h, engages the angle-lever, to make it continually press its short armagainst the shoulder f of the.

latch-bolt.

The relations of the angle-lever, yoke,and

hub are such'that when the square head of the latch-bolt is just within the bolt-head mortise, as' shown in Fig. 1, the long arm of the angle-lever F rests within the slot in the hub, and with its upper edge about flush with the 1 sides of the hole through the hub, so that when the knob spindle or shaft is inserted in the hub the angledever cannot be moved in such a direction as to allow the latch-bolt to move forward in the yoke; but when the knob shaft or spindle is withdrawn from the hub the'angle-lever can move inside the walls of the square hole in the hub sufficiently to allow the latchbolt and short arm of the angle-lever to be drawn forward independently of the yoke,

to take the square head of said latch-bolt out of the mortise in the face-plate, whemit can be turned with its beveled face ineither direction for a ri' may be desired.

'If desired, a single spring might be so arranged as to perform the office of the two springs e and h, herein shown and described.

I claim as my invention-- 5 1. In a reversible latch, the combination of slotted hub, provided with rigid arms, the yoke having studs to engage the arms of the hub,

the latch-bolt arranged to move longitudinally Withinsaid yoke, and the angle-lever pivoted to they'oke, and having one arm'engaging a shoulder on the latch-bolt and the other arm resting within the slotted hub, substantially J as described, and for the pm'pose'specified.

2. In a reversible latch, the yoke 0, having two bearings, b b, for the round shaft of the latch-bolt, and a shouldered tenon, a, at its outer end, adapted to engage the bolt-head mortise in the face-plate, substantially as described, and for the purpose specified.

WILLIAM E. SPARKS] Witnesses:- I

CHARLES PEcK, E. L. PRIOR.

PATENT OFFICE.

ght-hand or a left-hand latch, as 

